+34
‘He’s the one’: Aussie UFC star calls out former world champ for blockbuster Sydney return
Robert Whittaker wants to make his next UFC fight a family occasion – in his hometown, against a former world champ. The Aussie star still has Jan Blachowicz at the top of his hit list for the newly announced Sydney Fight Night, as he looks to build on a winning start to life at light heavyweight.
UFC 332: Silva v Wang | SUN 5 OCTOBER 11AM AEDT | UFC 332 heads to Salt Lake City where Natalia Silva will go head to head against Wang Cong for the vacant UFC Women’s flyweight title. |The UFC will return to Afterpay Arena, formerly Qudos Bank Arena, on Sunday, February 7, 2027, for Sydney’s first Fight Night event since 2017.
“No, I don’t really have any direction just yet, just focusing on prepping and making sure I’m ready for it,” he said. “Yeah, he’s the one,” Whittaker said of former light heavyweight champ Blachowicz. “If he’s available, then I think that’ll be a good fight. He kind of already accepted the fight over social media, no contracts or anything like that.
If that matchup cannot be made, Whittaker is happy to look elsewhere – provided it gives him the chance to climb. For Whittaker, the chance to fight in Sydney has appeal well beyond the opponent. His last appearance in the Harbour City came way back in November 2014, when he stopped Clint Hester in the second round on his UFC middleweight debut.
More than a decade later, the former middleweight king wants his kids, friends and family there to share the experience.
“It’s one thing I wanted to do. Bring all my kids and my friends and family, and fight in my hometown.
“I know these opportunities and experiences aren’t available to everyone. So I think it’s really important to make the most of it. ”So has leaving behind the nightmare of making the middleweight limit. Whittaker admitted the weight cut, and everything required to get through it, had started wearing thin towards the end of his time in the division.
“I think towards the back end of my middleweight career, I started to really drag my feet toward cutting weight and the training whilst having to cut weight, and just the lifestyle that fighting at 84 kilos can lend itself,” he said. “So moving up to light heavyweight, and as well not only that but also my mentality of bringing my family and kids and just enjoying the experience.
He has already shown he can handle himself in his new division, stopping Nikita Krylov in the third round at UFC 329 in July. While the size of his new opponents had given him something to think about beforehand, Whittaker said that concern began fading late in the opening round.
“It was more or less kind of at the back end of round one is when I got my range, I got my timing,” he said. “What they were wasn’t really as scary or as daunting as I had made it.
Then there are the little wins at home. He is still eating to perform, but the days of weighing and measuring every meal have gone.
“Everything before at middleweight mattered. Everything’s calorie counted and weighed and measured and you can’t eat this, can’t eat that,” Whittaker said.
“Whereas at light heavy, it’s like I’m not doing anything silly. I’m still trying to eat for performance, but I don’t need to weigh my foods or measure them.
“Like if we’re having spaghetti bolognese with the kids, I can actually have spaghetti bolognese with the kids, and I don’t have to go scurry off to a corner with my salads and eat by myself. ”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Nobel Peace Prize 2026: Peace Researchers Urge Look Past Trump and ZelenskyyWith the 2026 Nobel peace prize due on 9 October, betting markets favor Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but researchers argue courts, journalists and humanitarian groups deserve the award more.
Read more »
NBL 2026: Early Scoring Stars Set the Stage for MVP BattleThe NBL season has begun with explosive performances from veterans and imports, immediately shaping the MVP narrative and promising a thrilling championship race.
Read more »
Yung Milla Makes History as First Rapper to Win The Voice Australia 2026Darwin native Yung Milla, a 22‑year‑old rapper, won The Voice Australia's final round, becoming the first Indigenous rapper to claim the top prize. His journey from a domestic‑violence‑haunted upbringing to national acclaim is celebrated through a series of standout performances that blend rap, traditional instruments and powerful storytelling. The win opens a new chapter featuring a forthcoming single, a collaboration tour with Kid Ink, and plans to use his platform to uplift his community.
Read more »
The highs, lows and whoas of the 2026 MTV Video Music AwardsFrom Madonna’s dad jokes to Taylor Swift’s music video premiere, here are the most memorable moments from the 2026 VMAs.
Read more »